Sprinkler electric signal system.



J. D. NELSON, SPRINKLER ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-19,1917. 1,26,13.

Patented May 14, 1918;

JAMES D. NELson,

ran

F CINCINNATI,

SPRINKLER ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEIIE.

Application filed April 19, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES D. NELsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sprinkler Electric Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

An object of my invention is to produce an improved electric signal system for supervising sprinkler system valves and other devices, in such a manner that the transn1ission of signals upon changes of conditions in the various devices to be supervised, can not be affected by sudden changes in the conditions of the supervised devices after the transmission of signals in response to their original disturbances, has been initiated.

A further object is to produce an improved electric signal system for the supervision of sprinkler system valves and other devices in which separate alarm mechanisms are employed for the transmission of trouble and O. K. signals and in which confusion of signals is rendered impossible.

The drawing is a diagrammatic view of my improved supervisory electric system.

This system consists of a trouble signal transmitter A adapted to be released by an electro magnet 1, and an O. K. signal transmitter B adapted to be released by an electromagnet 2. Bothmagnets are under direct control of the device 3, herein represented as a valve of the sprinkler system, to be supervised. Energy for the operation of these magnets is furnished by any suitable source of electric potential, such as a battery 4. The signal transmitters A and B are adapted to transmit signals to the central station which is represented diagrammatically at 5. Supervised device 3 is provided with a switch 6 which is controlled directly thereby to change its switch arm 7 from one switch contact 8, which it engages when the valve is in its normal condition, to a contact 9 which it engages when the valve is changed from its normal condition. Switch arm 7 and contacts 8 and 9 are connected with the transmitter releasing magnets 1 and 2 and with certain elements of the transmitters, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully de scribed.

Each of the transmitters A and B are identical in construction, their gears, cams, signal wheels, releasing mechanisms and switches being duplicates. For this reason Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 1,. 1918.

Serial No. 163,168.

a description of the construction of transmitter A will suffice for both. Any suitable means such as a spring 10 is employed for turnishing driving power for the transmitter, a gear pinion 11 being mounted upon spring driven shaft 12 for driving the train of gears 13 and let which are mounted upon the respective shafts 15 and 16 of the transmitter mechanism. Shaft 15 carries the cam 17 in which a notch 18 is formed. in addition to this, shaft 15 carries a signal Wheel 19 having teeth 20 adapted to cooperate with a switch 21. Cooperating with notch 18 is a lever 22 adapted to release the transmitter and which is under direct control of its cooperating electromagnet. End 23 of lever 22 rests upon the end of an armature lever 24. Each lever 24 is provided with an armature 25 which is controlled by its cotiperating electromagnet. Mounted upon shaft 16, in addition to pinion 14, is an escapement wheel 26 cooperating with which is an escapement pawl 27 having a finger 28 extending into engagement with a shoulder 29 formed on lever Mounted upon lever is a switch 30 consisting of an arm 31 and a contact Secured to cam 17 substantially opposite notch 18 is a pin 33 which cooperates with a switch 3 for the purpose of opening and closing the switch. Switch 34 is constructed substantially identically with switch 21. Switch 21 consists of a switch arm cooperating with a contact 36 and switch 31 consisting of a switch arm 37 cooperating with a contact 38.

Releasing levers 22 are provided with detents 70 which engage notches 18 of each cam 17. In addition to this, armature levers 2 t of electromagnets 1 and 2 are secured to a rotatively mounted shaft'71, shown in dotdash lines, so that when one armature lever is operated the other one will also be operated. Levers 24 are held in engagement with ends 23 of levers by means of a spring 72 which is of suflicient strength to lift releasing levers 22 when magnets 1 and 2 are de'c'nergized. Either of the magnets 1 and 2 is sufiicient to retractarmature levers 24 against the tension of spring 72 to allow releasing levers 22 to hold the transmitters against operation.

Central station consists of the usual controlling magnet 39 adapted to actuate an armature 40 which when in its normal position in response to the closed circuit through magnet 39, engages a contact 74: and when in its released position under influence of a spring 12 engages a contact -11. i l/hen engaging contact 1-1 armature d0 closes a local circuit througl'i an audible signal device 13'; a visible signal device M and a local battery d5. 7

Switch 6 under the control of supervised device 3, is adapted to be operated by an arm 4:6 which carries a roller 47 at its end and which engages a groove as in the stem 4L9 of the valve, so that when the hand wheel 50 of the valve is operated, switch arm 7 will be moved from one to the other of the contacts 8 and 9.

Connected with. the positive pole of main line battery 1 is a lead 51 which in turn is connected with leads 52 and 53 leading respectively to magnets 1 and 2. The negative pole of battery l has a lead 5% which is connected with leads 55 and 56, lead being connected with switch arm 7 of switch (3 and lead 56 being connected with switch arm 31 of switch 30 of transmitter B. EX- tending from the opposite terminals of magnets 1 and 2 are respective leads 57 and 58 which are connected with switch arms 37 of switches 23% oi both transmitters. (lonnected with lead 56 is a lead 59 which is connected with switch arm 31 of switch 30 of trans sitter A. Contact of switch 30 of transmitter 13 is connected with a lead 60 which is connected with lead 61 of contact 38 of switch 34: of transmitter A. These leads 60 and 61 are in turn connected directly with contact 3 of switch 6 by means of a lead 62. Contact 9 of switch 6 is connected by means of a lead 63 with lead 6% of contact 38 of switch of transn'litter B, contact 32 of switch 30 of transmitter A also being connected with leads 63 and 64: by means of a lead 65. Contact 36 of switch 21 of transmitter A is connected with switch arm 35 of switch 21 of transmitter B by means of a lead 66. Contact 36 of switch 21 of transmitter B- is connected with the positive terminal of a battery 7 5 by means of a lead 73. Switch arm 35 of switch 21 of transmitter A being connected with one terminal of magnet 39 by means of a lead 63, the other terminal of magnet 39 being connected with the negative pole of battery 75. Central station 5 has its visible and audible signal devices 4:1: and 13 connected in series in a circuit 69 through armature e0 local battery 4:5.

The operation of my improved. supervisory signal system is as follows The system being one of the closed circuit type, the connections and positions of the switch-es of the system will cause magnet 1 to be normally energized. The magnet is energized because switch arm 7 is in engagement with contact 8 of switch 6 ot' the supervised valve 3, switch 3% which is also in the circuit, being closed. Notch d8 of valve 3, when the valve is in its normally wide open position, permits roller d7 of arm d6 to enter itand thus to permit switch arm 7 to engage contact 8 under influence of spring 72 which forms part of lead 55. The circuit of ma 'net 1 is thus closed at this point. Switch is held closed by reason of pin 33 of cam 17 of transmitter A engaging arm 37 or" the switch to hold the arm in engagement with contact 38. Thus the circuit established is as follows: battery 1, leads 51 and 52, magnet 1, lead arm 37, contact 38, leads 61 and 62, contact 8, switch arm '7, spring 72, and leads and 5 The magnet having thus been energized, armatures 25 are retracted and levers 2i permit levers 22 to drop with their detents 70 enga ing notches 18 in cams 17 of both transmitters. in this normal condition of the various elements of the system, switches 30 are open, and switches :21 are closed. This normal. condition is such that switch 34 of transmitter A is closed by reason of the engagement of pin with switch arm 37. The transmitter cam 17 is thus in theposition shown, wherein its detent is in position to be lifted from the notch onto the surface of the cam as soon as the transmitter is released. .lransmitter B is somewhat retarced with relation to transmitter A, the position of the detent 70 of its releasing lever 22 being at the front or beginning of notch 18 of its cam 17 Thus pin 33 of transmitter B has not yet been brought into engagement with arm 37 of switch 34. Thus switch 34 of transmitter B is allowed to remain open.

As soon as supervised valve 3 is disturbed either to partially or to entirely close it, roller t? rides out of notch 18 and causes switch arm 7 to disengage contact 8 and to engage contact 9. This action instantly breaks the circuit through magnet 1 and releases armatures 25 so that their levers 2e under influence of spring 72 will lift releasing levers 22 of both transmitters and permit both transmitters to operate. However, as soon as transmitter B starts to opcrate, its pin engages switch arm 37 of its switch 34 and closes the switch by engaging contact 38. This results in energizing magnet 2 by establishing-a circuit as follows: battery a, leads 51 and magnet 2, lead 58, switch arm 3'7, contact 38, leads 6% and 63. contact 9, switch arm 7, spring 72, leads 55 and 54- and back to the battery. The magnet h in tons been energized the armature leve s are retracted and the releasing levers 22 are :treed. Transmitter A by this time has operated sufficiently to lift its releasing lever entirely from the notch 18 of its cam 17. Transmitter A therefore continues to operate to transmit the signal by the passage of the signal teeth 20 of its signal wheel 19 to open and close its signal transmitting switch 21. However, transmitter B having advanced sulficiently to bring its pin 33 into engagement with switch arm 37 of its switch 34. and having thereby closed the circuit through its magnet 2, has permitted its releasing lever 22 to drop into the rear end of its notch 18 in the same position as that 0ccupied by detent of lever 22 of transmitter A as shown in the drawing. Transmitter B for this reason remains locked against movement while transmitter A con tinues in its operation of transmitting a trouble signal to central station The circuit to central station 5 is one of the closed type in which battery is the source of electric potential. This circuit is as follows: battery 7 5, leads 73, contact 36 of transmitter B, switch arm 35 of transmitter B, lead66, contact 36 of transmitter A, switch arm of transmitter A, lead 68, magnet 39, and leads 67 through battery 7 5. Thus as switch arm 35 of switch 21 of transmitter A is operated to open and close the circuit, armature -it() is vibrated to engage contact 41-1 to close and open the local circuit of the central station to permit the recording of the signal. In the construction of transmitter A, the trouble signal will be transmitted twice before notch 18 again approaches detent 70. As soon as the forward end of notch 18 registers with detent 7 0 lever 22 drops and thus stops operation of its escapemcnt pawl 27 to lock the transmitter against further movement. In this position the detent occupies the forward end of notch 18 of its cam 17, in the same position as shown in transmitter B in the drawings. In this position switch 34: of transmitter A is left in its opened condition in which position switch 3 of transmitter B is shown in the drawings. The entire system is thus conditioned to transmit an O. K. signal as soon as valve 3 is opened.

\Vhen valve 3 is opened to bring its notch CS to register with roller 47 of switch'6, switch arm 7 is operated to disengage contact 9 and again to engage contact 8. As soon as contact 9 is disengaged, the circuit through magnet 2 is broken. This permits armature levers 24 to lift transmitter releasing levers so that both transmitters are released. However, as soon as transmitter A starts to operate, its pin 33 rengages switch arm 37 of its switch 34 to close the switch an d thus cause magnet 1 to become energized by establishing the following circuit: battery 1;. leads 51 and 52, magnet 1, lead 57 arm 37, Contact 38, leads 61 and 62, contact 8, arm 7, spring 7 2, and leads 55 and 54: back through the battery. This results in retracting armature lever 24: of magnet 1 and permitting releasing lever 22 to drop into the rear end of notch 18 of transmitter A to stop the opera tion of this transmitter. However, transmitter B has advanced sufiiciently to bring its notch beyond the detent 7 0 of its releasing lever 22 so that its operation is continued to send in an O. K. signal by the passage oii teeth 20 of its signal wheel 19 beneath switch arm 35 of switch 21 to open and close the circuit leading to central station and comprising battery 75, lead 7 3,'contact 36, arm 35, lead 66, contact 36, switch arm 35, lead 68, magnet 39, and leads 67, back through the battery. In this manner central station 5 is caused to record the O. K. signal in the same manner that the trouble signal was recorded. Transmitter B continues so to operate until the forward end of notch 18 of its cam 17 again registers with detent 70 of its releasing lever 22, at which time the transmitter is again locked against further operation. The system at this point is once more in its normal condition such as disclosed in the drawing.

A feature of my improved system consists in the provision of switches 30 for assuring the operation of but one transmitter at a time. WVhen releasing lever 22 of transmitter A is raised to pern'iit operation of transmitter A, switch 30 of this trans-- mitter is closed. The closing of this switch performs the function of closing a circuit through magnet 2 as follows: battery 4, leads 51 and 53, magnet 2, lead 58, switch arm 37, contact 38, leads 6% and .65, contact 32, switch arm 31, leads 59, 56 and 54, and back through the battery, switch 34 of trans mitter B having been closed upon its initial movement when pin 33 is brought into engagement with arm 37 to close the switch.

In addition to this circuit the previously described circuit has been closed by the shifting of switch arm 7 of switch (3 to engage contact 9. The purpose of this auxiliary circuit through switch 30 is to prevent magnet 2 becoming deenergized through any tampering with switch 6 after transmitter A has been started, so that transmitter B will not be released to start a confusing signal simultaneously with the signal transmitted from transmitter A. In addition to switch 30 of transmitter A another switch 30 has been provided for transmitter B, this switch performing the function of maintaining an auxiliary circuit through magnet 1 to prevent transmitter A from sending in a conflicting signal at the time transmitter B is in operation. The operation of switch 30 of transmitter B causes a circuit through magnet 1 to be closed as follows: battery l, leads 51 and magnet 1.. lead 57 switch arm 37, contact 38, leads 61 and 60, contact switch arm 31 of switch 30 of transmitter B, leads 56 and 5%, and back through battery This circuit is for the purpose of preventing operation of transmitter A should switch 6 be tampered with to change the contact of switch arm 7 with contact 8 which would. open the circuit through magnet 1.

It will thus be seen that in my improved signal system, I have provided separate and distinct transmitters for the trouble and (1K. signals and for so arranging the connections that interference of one signal with the other is rendered impossible. A further advantage of my improved system is that the order in which the signals are transmitted can not be changed either through accident, tampering or other causes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is;

1. An electric signal system for supervising valves and other devices, consisting of a trouble signal transmitter, an O. K. signal transmitter, means adapted to release the transmitters, and means responsive to variations in condition of the device to be supervised, whereby said trouble signal transmitter will be released to" transmit a trouble signal and whereby the O. K. signal transmitter will be released to transmit an O. K. signal upon cessation of operation of the trouble signal transmitter and upon restoration of the device to be supervised to its normal condition.

2. An electric signal system for the supervision of valves and other devices, consisting of a trouble signal transmitter, an O. K. signal transmitter, a single means for releasing both transmitters, and means under direct control of the device to be supervised, adapted to control said first mentioned means to release the O. K. signal transmitter upon cessation of operation of the trouble signal transmitter and upon restoration 01" the device to be supervised to its normal condition.

3. An electric signal system for supervising valves and other devices, consisting of a trouble signal transmitter, an O. K. signal transmitter, a single releasing means for said transmitters, a device operatively connec ed with the device to be supervised and responsive to variations in the condition of the device, adapted to control said releasing means, and a second means operatively connected with transmitters, adapted to condition the releasing means to prevent simultaneous operation of the transmitters.

4. An electric signal system for supervising valves and other devices, consisting of two signal transmitters, an actuating mechanism for each transmitter, means responsive to a change in the device to be supervised, adapted to condition one mechanism for operation, and means cooperating with the first actuated mechanism, adapted to condition the second actuating mechanism for operation in response to another change in the condition of the device to be supervised.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of April, 1917.

JAldES D. NELSON.

Witnesses VVALTER F. MURRAY, V. THORNTON Boomer.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

